Ending UNRWA Funding is Tantamount to Regional Escalation

The impact will be felt far beyond Gaza

There is drama in the United States Senate. Yesterday, Senate Republicans rejected a national security bill (that they helped write!) that would have revamped American border and asylum policy and provided aid for Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel. Democrats, who hold a slim majority, are now planning to offer standalone foreign aid packages for Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel. For Israel, the measure would provide military assistance to the Israeli government and funds for humanitarian agencies supporting besieged Gazans.

The ultimate fate of this effort is uncertain. However, in all versions of this legislative drama one thing is consistent: funding for UNRWA is prohibited. This was the case in the doomed bill that Democrats supported yesterday, and it would almost certainly be the case in any Israel funding package going forward. If a bill is passed, any humanitarian assistance would be required to bypass UNRWA.

Congress is following the Biden administration’s lead. On January 26, the State De…